Posts

Free online interview software?

Are you on a budget and need a free online interview software solution? If so then we have some great news for you…

Sarah Palin once quoted:

“You either get free stuff or you get freedom. You cannot have both, and you need to make a choice.”

Although Sarah Palin maybe correct in regards to some context, she is 100% wrong when it comes to free online interview software and especially when Candidate Video are in the picture.

First of all we understand that not every recruitment agency, HR or business who recruit on a regular basis want to jump into a paid online video interviewing service. But rather try the software to ensure that it meets their needs and requirements first.

Many online interviewing services can also be an expensive investment whilst also including a steep learning curb.

Which is why we have introduced something very exciting!

Candidate Video has a limited time offer where you can get 1 month free use of our online interview software which includes all the features and services.

Once the free trial has ended and you have discovered how much time and money you can save being away from the interview room and utilising online video interviewing software then you have the option to subscribe to one of our competitive packages.

We offer 3 packages that have been carefully designed to help every type of recruitment volume:

Basic

£37 per month
50 Interviews Per Month
Each interview provides up to 5 questions and 10 minutes Pre-Screening

Standard

£57 per month
100 Interviews Per Month
Each interview provides up to 5 questions and 10 minutes Pre-Screening

Premium

£127 per month
500 Interviews Per Month
Each interview provides up to 5 questions and 10 minutes Pre-Screening

Video Interviewing Software or Skype? What is Best?

The hiring process in the recruitment industry has taken some dramatic changes over the last few years. More and more companies are moving away from the traditional methods of job board posting, resume reading and screening processes and are moving closer towards fully featured digital alternatives to leverage their time whilst also being able to find the best candidate for the job.

These digital alternatives, including video interviewing software, pre-recorded interviews and live interviews are allowing companies and businesses to research their potential candidates in a much more personal environment, helping them to really see which of their applicants is perfect for any job vacancy.

To make this process easier, there are a number of methods in which these processes can take place. Today, we will be exploring conference calling using software platforms such as Skype and pre-recorded video interview software, as well as discovering the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Conference Calling

There are a large number of conference calling platforms currently available to individuals and businesses.

From Zoom to Google Hangouts, most tech companies after seeing the demand are now offering their own solutions to this increasingly popular communication method.

Easily one of the longest-standing and most popular products on that market is currently Skype.

Founded in 2003 and now owned by Microsoft, Skype has developed into one of the most used video call packages and is used daily by millions of people all over the world.

There are a number of fantastic reasons why using a platform such as Skype can benefit your recruitment department.

By using Skype to interview potential candidates, recruiters can, in theory, recruit workers from all over the world, whether they are remote workers or simply to save the cost of having to fly an applicant into the headquarters for an interview. Not only is this saving time and money but interviews can also take place whenever is best for both parties.

Another great advantage of using video conferencing platforms is that recruiters can really gain a perspective of a person, much greater than they would if reading a resume. Recruiters are able to see factors such as a persons body language and facial impressions, all together building up a very detailed character profile.

Recruiters also have the ability to see things such as the interviewee’s background. Are they in a messy bedroom? A coffee shop? Or a nice, neat, tidy office environment? These can really affect the decision process.

In summary, using Skype, recruiters are given the opportunity to interview multiple people without the need of wasting travel time for both parties plus gain more information and detail on an applicant than they would using traditional recruitment methods.

On the other hand, there are a few disadvantages to using video interviewing platforms such as Skype.

Firstly, if recruiters are solely relying on a live video interview then they should note that there is no guarantee the candidate will be available to partake in a video interview especially if the candidate is located on the other side of the world and restricted by time zones.

A two way Skype call can also be problematic as it requires good internet speeds for both parties to ensure that the call is not freezing or that the audio is distorted.

Video Interviewing Software

Pre-recorded video interviews usually occur in the stage just before live interviews and are commonly referred to in the industry as ‘pre-screening interviews’.

These pre-screening video interviews consist of pre-written interview questions set by the recruiters or HR Managers and are sent to candidates to answer in a video format.

There are many advantages for recruiters and applicants using video interviewing software as part of their recruiting process.

Firstly, recruiters are able to set questions to match the requirements for the job vacancy they are advertising. Therefore this means they are able to see what applicants really think and say in regards to the job role and in return the recruiter is able to gain a better understanding when it comes to choosing who is suitable for the next stage of the interviewing process.

By using video interviewing software, recruiters are no longer required to filter through resume after resume, trying to build mental images of people in their heads based on what is written on a piece of paper. With vide interviewing software recruiters are able to send these pre-written questions out to a large number of applicants at a click of a button and simply sit back and watch the interviews. The candidates interview videos can be watched by the recruiter at anytime, multiple times and even be sent to recruitment managers or peers for feedback or a second opinion.

There are also a number of positives for the candidates who use video interviewing software. By partaking in pre-recorded video interviews, candidates have time to prepare and think about how they are going to answer each question.

This means they are not put on the spot and can prepare themselves for questions that might be asked in face-to-face interviews.

Interview videos can also be completed by applicants in a time that suits them, meaning if they still have to go to work or commit to family situations, interviews can be conducted in the candidates own time, meaning they don’t have to put other things on hold to attend interviews.

Traveling time is also a major factor that should be highlighted. By using video interviewing software, the cost and time to travel to job interviews is no longer a problem.

There are very few downsides to video interviewing software. There will always be some candidates who do not have a laptop or mobile device conduct the video interviews.

Yet, this is a rare case in this day and age.

For those candidates who find themselves in this predicament then they can simply seek help from a family member or friend who have the relevant computer hardware to conduct the video interview. It’s also worth considering that laptops are now becoming more affordable year by year.

Bad sound and video quality can also be seen as a downside to video interviewing software. Yet, there are a couple of tips and tricks that can help solve this problem. We have created a guide for candidates who need to a helping hand with getting the best results.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a number of pros and cons to using video platforms in the recruitment industry. As the new method become more and more popular with businesses all over the world, recruiters and interviewees alike will begin to further understand the process and will be aware of how to achieve the best results.

For recruiters and candidates, video interviewing will clearly become the interview method of choice of the next coming years based on the advantages it has to offer.

Are you using video recruitment software yet? Or are you still fixed on using the old traditional methods of recruiting and selecting candidates? Let us know in the comments below.

http://blog.candidatevideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/video-interviewing-software-1.jpg600743Markhttp://blog.candidatevideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/logo1.pngMark2017-04-23 09:19:192017-04-23 09:44:00Video Interviewing Software or Skype? What is best?